Breaking down the Cardinals-Red Sox World Series

Breaking down the Cardinals-Red Sox World Series
For the first time since 1999, the year the Yankees swept the Braves, the teams with the best records will play in the World Series. This is the fourth World Series played by the Cardinals and Red Sox. The Cardinals beat the Red Sox in 1946 and 1967. Both went seven games. The Red Sox swept St. Louis in 2004 to end the famous "Curse of the Bambino,'' giving them that gave them a title for the first time since Babe Ruth played for them in 1918. The series opens in Boston. The last time the...
Continue reading

Predicting the AL and NL postseason awards

Predicting the AL and NL postseason awards
The season is done. The ballots are in. The Orioles' Chris Davis and Adam Jones are going to appear on American League MVP ballots. The Nationals' Jordan Zimmermann should make some National League Cy Young Award ballots and maybe his teammate, Jayson Werth, will get NL MVP votes as well. The Baseball Writers' Association of America will announce their awards in November, but here's one perspective: * NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers is the winner. How could anyone argue with...
Continue reading

Nationals need stay on a wining run and get some help

Nationals need stay on a wining run and get some help
If the Nationals somehow find a way to make October's postseason, they could be the favorite to go to the World Series. They are the hottest team in the National League. The question is whether they will have enough time to complete their comeback. The best-case scenario is that the Nationals win their final 11 games and finish with 92 victories. Pittsburgh has 87 wins and the Reds 86. The Nationals winning their final 11 games isn't out of the question, but 9-2 is more realistic, especially...
Continue reading

Nats' Jayson Werth should be a factor in National League MVP competition

Nats' Jayson Werth should be a factor in National League MVP competition
Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth should be a factor in the National League's MVP voting. But if the team pulls off a miracle and becomes a wild card team, Werth's case gets stronger. He missed May with an injury, but there's no arguing that his average, on-base percentage and power in the second half have carried the Nationals' reawakened offense. He might win the NL batting title, and, in addition, he has all the leadership intangibles. The competition: * Freddie Freeman and Chris...
Continue reading

The most oft-asked questions this September

The most oft-asked questions this September
Here are the answers to the most often asked questions about September: * Why do teams play with 25-man rosters through August and then are allowed to expand to up to 40 for September? It's a rule that has always been, but it's driving managers crazy, and they are becoming more vocal about it. General managers have the power to change the rule, and they will likely take a look at it this winter. The simple solution is to allow roster expansion but designate a certain number of additional...
Continue reading

Taking a look at the contenders in divisional races

Taking a look at the contenders in divisional races
Let's take a look at what's going on in the divisional races: * If the season ended today, the Red Sox would be considered the favorite to represent the American League in the World Series, but watch out for Texas. The Rangers might be having trouble beating Oakland in the AL West, but it is hard to argue with the Rangers' deep bullpen and a rotation led by Yu Darvish, Matt Garza and Derek Holland. And prospect Martin Perez has come out of nowhere to be a consistent winner. Biggest surprise...
Continue reading

Do the Orioles or Nationals have a better chance of returning to playoffs?

Do the Orioles or Nationals have a better chance of returning to playoffs?
As the season's final month arrives, the looming question remains: Who has a better chance of returning to the postseason, the Orioles or the Nationals? The Orioles are chasing two pitching-rich teams - the Red Sox and Rays - in their own division and another, Cleveland, that can't hit. The Nationals are at point where they need a winning streak and a collapse from one of the three contenders in the National League Central. We will know more soon about who the Nationals will be chasing....
Continue reading

Should Nats let Davey Johnson manage last month if they don't turn it around?

Should Nats let Davey Johnson manage last month if they don't turn it around?
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo hasn't given up on the season, but at a time when the Phillies fired a legend, Charlie Manuel, there is a similar question for the Nationals: If there is no hope for the team by Sept. 1, is it best for manager Davey Johnson to work the final month? Johnson, who said before the season that this would be his last, deserves to go out on his own terms, but the final month could give Rizzo a chance to see how Randy Knorr looks as a manager and how he handles...
Continue reading

Taking a look at the AL teams jockeying for the postseason

Taking a look at the AL teams jockeying for the postseason
The Orioles start the week 4 ½ games behind the Red Sox in the American League East, and they are bunched with teams in the race for two wild cards. Here's a snapshot of what's going on with the other contenders: * The Red Sox are coming off a tough series loss, losing three of four in Kansas City, but it is difficult to deny their rotation with Jake Peavy joining Jon Lester and John Lackey. ... How much Clay Buchholz (neck) will contribute remains a question. ... But the offense is...
Continue reading

Nationals even facing tough road to earning an NL wild card berth

Nationals even facing tough road to earning an NL wild card berth
Now that the Braves have finished off their second series sweep in D.C. and kept the Nationals from being relevant in the National League East, the Nationals have to turn their attention to making the playoffs as a wild card. And that avenue to October doesn't look good. After getting swept for a second time in D.C. by the Braves this season, the Nationals are nine games behind the Reds for the second wild card spot in the NL. The Diamondbacks are also ahead of the Nationals, who won 98...
Continue reading

Examining the deals on an anti-climactic non-waiver deadline day

Examining the deals on an anti-climactic non-waiver deadline day
Overall, the trades leading up to Wednesday's non-waiver deadline can be described in one word: anti-climactic. Cliff Lee and Michael Young stayed put in Philadelphia. Former National Michael Morse stayed in Seattle, even though Texas and Pittsburgh were looking for right-handed power. It turns out there was no market for the Twins' Justin Morneau. It's strange that Bud Norris, traded from Houston to the Orioles Tuesday, will be pitching against his former Astros team in his first...
Continue reading

With trade deadline nearing, who's buying and who's selling?

With trade deadline nearing, who's buying and who's selling?
The non-waiver trade deadline is Wednesday, and so far, general managers are saying that there are more buyers than sellers and that's driving up the price for contenders wanting to add players. "It looks like now our help is going to have to come from within the organization," says Pirates general manager Neal Huntington. "The market is tough right now." Trade speculation is tough to nail, here's how it is taking shape: * The Pirates, trying to break 20 consecutive seasons of losing,...
Continue reading

Ryan Braun's punishment far from enough

Ryan Braun's punishment far from enough
Outfielder Ryan Braun has been suspended for the rest of the Brewers' hopeless season for his involvement with an anti-aging clinic in Florida. That's bad enough for baseball, but what really makes everyone mad is how Braun tried to lie his way through it all. I can't believe he said he wanted to apologize to anyone he "may have disappointed." Really? Braun is arrogant and deceitful. He has not apologized in a sincere manner. He's still looking for a way to beat the rap. He still...
Continue reading

All Nationals need to do to get back in NL East race is put together a winning streak

All Nationals need to do to get back in NL East race is put together a winning streak
The Nationals are battling to stay in the National League East race. Their All-Star pitcher, Jordan Zimmermann, was done after two innings Sunday. They continue to struggle hitting with runners in scoring position and will try to rebound after getting swept at home by the Dodgers. But even though four months of the season are nearly complete, there's still time. And, they can learn from the Dodgers and Rays about what a winning streak can do to change a season. The Dodgers and Rays were...
Continue reading

As the second half kicks off, a look at the Nats and other National League contenders

As the second half kicks off, a look at the Nats and other National League contenders
The Nationals won 98 games last year. They aren't going to cruise to the National League East title this year, and it's going to be a grind just to make October. This time, they have to improve their hitting and get consistent pitching from No. 4 and No. 5 in the rotation. Dan Haren has pitched well in his return from the disabled list, and Ross Detwiler should be back next week. They need to pitch well. The depth is not there. The Nats offense is perplexing. At times, they surge....
Continue reading

Breaking down the O's second-half chances, contenders for division crowns, wild card spots

Breaking down the O's second-half chances, contenders for division crowns, wild card spots
If the Orioles are going to play in October for the second consecutive season, the formula is simple: They need a rotation to consistently pitch into the sixth and seventh innings. If that happens, the Orioles have plenty of offense, defense and a good enough bullpen to win the American League East. But as the season resumes Friday in Texas, the Orioles rotation ranks 13th in the AL with a 4.79 ERA, while their bullpen has pitched 306 innings, fourth-most in the league. And the Orioles can't...
Continue reading

If Desmond doesn't make NL All-Star team, it's an unforgivable snub

If Desmond doesn't make NL All-Star team, it's an unforgivable snub
When it comes to All-Star Games, Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond hasn't had good luck. Last season, he was selected as a reserve for the National League team, but couldn't make the trip to Kansas City because of injury. This season, he deserves a spot on the NL's 34-man squad, but he has to go up against Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig, 24, in the fans' voting for the final roster spot. Puig is a five-tool player who has developed into a rock star sensation since coming to the big leagues a...
Continue reading

All-Star Game needs some changes to restore its luster

All-Star Game needs some changes to restore its luster
Fan balloting for the All-Star Game lineups ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time Thursday. Perhaps it should end altogether. The balloting has become a sponsor-driven event where Major League Baseball encourages teams to encourage their fans to spend endless hours on the computer voting for the hometown players. Some teams have even constructed areas in their ballparks where fans can spend time voting for their favorite players. That is not the right way to select players for a game that...
Continue reading

Nationals need to improve clutch hitting, Orioles' ascent to top of AL East won't be easy

Nationals need to improve clutch hitting, Orioles' ascent to top of AL East won't be easy
As baseball moves into the third month of the season, here are some things to think about as burgers go on the grill: * If you think the Nationals' first half has been marked by a lack of clutch hitting, check out the Braves: Going into Monday, they have the National League's worst average (.221) with runners in scoring position. The Nats are at .247. Both teams are running on parallel tracks: Each has a strong rotation and bullpen, but no ability to sustain rallies. * It is obvious that...
Continue reading

Deserving O's Machado could be squeezed out of All-Star Game, Zimmermann likely to represent Nats

Deserving O's Machado could be squeezed out of All-Star Game, Zimmermann likely to represent Nats
The Orioles' Adam Jones, Chris Davis, J.J. Hardy and Nick Markakis are leading the All-Star voting at their respective positions, but third baseman Manny Machado's chances to make the team present interesting twists. Machado, who turns 21 on July 6, deserves to be at New York's Citi Field on July 16. At this point, he is more than a million votes behind Detroit's Miguel Cabrera to start at third base. Unless he overcomes Cabrera in the fan voting, Machado's being an All-Star depends on...
Continue reading